that is definitely the last thing I want do when I shoot portrait.
But at huangshan, I pretty much have to rely on it with A7 and 80-200. I hold high regard on this for people’s shooting preference.

But for me, the difference is not even small. I am 90% sure my image will be different with EVF. I need connect with real world instantly to engage myself. I don’t want any delay from shutter, EVF, LCD or anything else…

100% in-focus is given the priority to get the moment ‘right’ for my family shots. Only OVF and D700’s shutter response give me that….

These are cross posted images from the Sony A7/A7r thread and are some images that I took last evening a little before sunset of Muscari "Bluebells" at Lock Ridge Park, Alburtis, PA. Images were taken with my tripod mounted Leica R 100mm f2.8 Macro Apo Elmarit lens and my Sony A7r. Images processed in LR5.4.

shute wrote:
I do remember your recommendation to get D700 as body for R lens? Because I do have the same need as yours to get the moment 'right' for my family shots.

Although I do not regret the choice of a7, I have to say I am still not able to get the moment right.

I'm even thinking of getting an autofocus now...

seems to me the biggest problem with the a7 in this respect is the shutter. focus is easy and fast, but that mushy shutter makes it impossible to know exactly where in it's throw the shutter will fire. i'm hoping more time will get me used to exactly where it releases...

sebboh wrote:
...but that mushy shutter makes it impossible to know exactly where in it's throw the shutter will fire. i'm hoping more time will get me used to exactly where it releases...
Good luck with that, I don't see my guessing, when the shutter will fire, getting any better after almost half a year.

I'm very happy that my subjects don't move much, at most I have to time cloud edge passing between sun and my subject. Also the $1.99 wireless remote control from eBay has much better button than the one in camera...

I was quite disappointed to Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 E55 when compared to 90mm and 180mm Elmarits. Disappointment came from the rough boke the Summicron-R has. Any idea if Elmarit-R 35mm would have smooth boke like 90mm and 180mm Elmarits, while still being sharp where focused? Would like to extend my Leica lens family to 3 usable lens, and as I see 50mm Summicron-R isn't usable in my use due to boke.

(Ideally I would like to have latest Elmarit-R 28mm to combine with my 90 and 180, but it's way to expensive)

My Elmarit-R 35 has just about perfect bokeh, front and back, with mild longitudinal CA up to f/5.6. ("Mild" is entirely subjective, though.) None of the background bokeh haloing that I see with my Summicron-R 50. The Elmarit is very crisp in the center with a moderate but steady drop-off toward the corners.

From what I've seen, the Macro Elmarit 60mm might be a more desirable normal for you than the 'cron, though I haven't used the macro. The reason I keep the 'cron is the flip-side of its poor background bokeh: the foreground bokeh is pixie dust.

Caveat: I've only used my lenses on APS-C, with and without Speed Booster, and film, so I cannot speak to how they translate on 24x36mm sensors.

Samuli Vahonen wrote:
Good luck with that, I don't see my guessing, when the shutter will fire, getting any better after almost half a year.

I'm very happy that my subjects don't move much, at most I have to time cloud edge passing between sun and my subject. Also the $1.99 wireless remote control from eBay has much better button than the one in camera...

I was quite disappointed to Leica Summicron-R 50mm f/2 E55 when compared to 90mm and 180mm Elmarits. Disappointment came from the rough boke the Summicron-R has. Any idea if Elmarit-R 35mm would have smooth boke like 90mm and 180mm Elmarits, while still being sharp where focused? Would like to extend my Leica lens family to 3 usable lens, and as I see 50mm Summicron-R isn't usable in my use due to boke.

(Ideally I would like to have latest Elmarit-R 28mm to combine with my 90 and 180, but it's way to expensive)

Sorry the 50mm R Summicron lens Boke doesn't meet your needs. Mine is extremely sharp, but I am using my Minolta CLE MC 40mm f2.Summicron much more often than the Summicron due to its tiny size and light weight (and it is also quite sharp).

I haven't checked the Boke that carefully for my 60mm f2.8 Macro Elmarit lens, but it is also extremely sharp and may provide you with Boke that you might like. Also the lens would double up as a macro lens for you as well (but it is bigger, heavier, and longer than the Summicron). I am not using mine nearly as often as I once did since I have found that the 100mm f2.8 Apo Macro Elmarit is an even better performer.

Derek, +1 about shutter. But EVF also is a drag for me. At least doesn't meet my expectation getting from OVF experience.

shute, there is nothing wrong with AF lens, but I don't think AF lens can solve your problem. I believe you just need more practice with DSLR with bright OVF and decent screen. MF has many trick and skill that you will find very rewarding, many case way better than AF. but it need you think more and practice more

Samuli, your 90mm shot looks great, but I am not fan of 180, at least based on this photo. I did a short review about 50cron in this thread. I agree its bokeh can only be only rate as neutral. (typical case, 2~3M subject distance, far away busy background) At f2.8, it improve a lot IMO. background show less jittery, but peaceful shape.

But to me, I feel it is a awesome portrait lens. the DOF transition is special to me. at least I feel that way compare to other lens I used, maybe just because of red dot size is small, stop down is great. (I did a cross comparison in 50mm region. it is better than most 50mm I have. )
Will use it more later.

redisburning wrote:
60 macro elmarit R is a great lens but it has 6 aperture blades.

samuli's shots have tons of specular highlights. I mean I own one and I really like it, but that will probably be an issue for him. other than that, and being a stop slower, I think it's a considerably better lens than 50 cron R II (which is why I own 60ME instead).
With Leica lenses I'm having slightly different "goal" than my usual stuff. With my usual stuff I shoot with Contax and Carl Zeiss lenses I often prefer a little rougher boke. However with Leica lenses I would prefer smooth boke, and Elmarit-R 90mm E55 has the rendering style I prefer "for Leica"; pretty sharp on focus plane, but smooth on boke and boke highlights don't have ugly bright edges (like E55 Summicron-R).

APO-Elmarit-R 180mm has little too rough boke, and it's photos match well my Contax and Zeiss lenses in overall look. I have actually shoot it a lot with Zeiss ZE-series lenses, and photos need no tweaking to make it's rendering to match "Zeiss style". So I'm looking for more similar rendering style as 90mm has.

Michael has posted lots of 35 'lux samples, and I believe Jack has posted a few good 35 'cron samples. Basically, the late 1970's and early 1980's lenses with Midland designs fit the description that you've giving: good resolution, though lower than modern lenses, but with gentler transitions. Perhaps a pre-APO 180 would fit the bill?

Gregg, you've been on a roll with images that have a distinct punchiness to them, here and in the A7 thread. I'm not sure where it comes from, though I'm thinking it might have something to do with hard side lighting and subjects that represent a wide range of contrast (both broad strokes and fine detail), brought together with moderately shallow depth of field. That's just my working hypothesis. :-) I look forward to seeing more and I hope you don't mind if I try to emulate!